Without a second glance, Astrella tightened her grip on her son, the child who had always been her world and turned away. She retreated to her room, seeking solace in the quiet, away from the mess they had left behind.
With a soft click, Astrella locked the door behind her, the sound echoing in the stillness of the room. In the living room, Raiden sat on the couch, lazily pulling out a cigarette. Norella rushed over to light it for him, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face.
“Raiden…” Norella’s voice quivered as she gazed at him, her face as pale as the moon.
Raiden barely lifted his head, his expression empty, as if the weight of everything had drained him.
Seizing the moment, Norella let a single tear fall, her voice cracking with feigned distress. “Actually, that burger and cola weren’t mine… They were bought by Astrella to frame me. Think about it: how could she know about Reaghan’s illness? How could someone with just a high school education know something even you didn’t?”
Her words dripped with venom, yet she softened them with a tremor of fake vulnerability. “She’s jealous, Raiden. She can’t stand seeing you buy me clothes and gifts. She’s taking it out on the child!”